Connecticut
CALLS TO ACTION
SCHOOL VACCINE MANDATES AND YOUR OPTIONS
What Exemptions does your state offer?
Medical only
What is the process to get a religious exemption in your state?
N/A
Who can add vaccines to the state's childhood schedule, the department of health or the legislature?
Legislature
What health care can minors consent to on their own?
In the state of Connecticut, minors (under the age of eighteen years) are allowed to receive care and treatment without parental
consent for the following medical services:
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s): A minor does not need parental consent for testing and
treatment of STI’s. Your health care provider must keep the information confidential, including
the sending of a bill for services. This information will be reported to the local Department of
Public Health for reporting purposes but will be kept confidential.
*If the minor is under 12 years of age, the health care provider must report the name, age,
and address of the minor to the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families
(DCF).*
Reproductive Health Care: A minor may obtain GYN care, non-permanent birth control such as
birth control pills, IUDs, implants, reproductive health counseling (up to 6 sessions; at that time
notification is required under certain circumstances), pregnancy testing and/or care and
postpartum care without the consent of a parent or guardian.
Drug or Alcohol Dependence: A minor does not need parental or guardian consent for treatment
of drug or alcohol dependence. Parents or guardians cannot be informed of the treatment without
the minor’s permission.
HIV Testing: A minor is allowed to be tested for HIV without parental or a guardian’s consent.
A parent’s or guardian’s consent is needed in order to examine or treat a minor infected with
HIV or AIDS unless the physician determines the notification will result in denial of treatment
or the minor will not start or continue treatment if parents or guardians are notified without the
minor’s consent.
Abortion Services including Emergency Contraception (“morning after pill): A minor may
obtain an abortion and the morning after pill without parental consent. The morning after pill can
only be obtained with a prescription.
A person under 16 years of age must receive specific pregnancy information and counseling
prior to any abortion services. The counselor must discuss the possibility of involving the parents
or another adult family member in the minor’s decision about the pregnancy. The option to
involve the parents or guardians should also be discussed.
*This required counseling does not mean abortion services will not be provided to the minor. She
is still able to obtain these services without her parents’ or guardians’ consent.*
Mental Health Treatment: A minor may receive a minimum of 6 outpatient mental health
treatment sessions without a parent’s or guardian’s consent or notification if:
▪ Requiring consent or notification would cause the minor to reject the treatment
▪ The treatment is clinically indicated
▪ Failure to provide treatment would be seriously detrimental to the minor’s well-being
▪ The minor has knowingly and voluntarily sought it
▪ The minor is mature enough to participate in treatment productively
“PAYING FOR TREATMENT”
Often times, minors are covered under their parents’ or guardians’ health insurance which pays
for health care services. It is important to know the insurance company will send the insurance
policy holder, usually the parent(s) or guardian(s), an EOB or explanation of benefits. The EOB
shows some confidential information such as the name of the patient, the care provided and the
cost of the care. If a minor does not want their health care services information revealed through
the EOB, she can choose to pay for the care directly.
It is important to know health care insurances will cover most medical expenses but not all. For
those health care services that are not covered, the patient is responsible for paying the costs
and expenses for services received. An uninformed parent or guardian is not responsible for
treatment costs not covered by insurance. If the services will be too expensive, the minor should
seek care at free or low-cost health care facilities. Under the Affordable Care Act, the following
services are examples of what may be free for minors depending on their insurance plan:
• Preventive screening and counseling for STI’s
• HIV testing
• Cervical Cancer screening
• Birth control counseling and birth control prescriptions
• Screening for interpersonal violence
• Counseling for depression
• Counseling for substance abuse
PARENTAL RIGHTS TO A MINOR’S MEDICAL RECORDS
Although there is no Connecticut state law that governs parental access to the minor’s protected
health information, HIPAA regulations give health care providers discretion to grant or deny the
parent or guardian access to the record. Under HIPAA regulations, parents can generally have
access to and the right to control their minor’s health record except. When one parent has legal
custody of the minor, the non-custodial parent maintains the legal right to obtain the medical
records unless there is an order from the Superior Court stating otherwise. In the case of joint
custody, both parents can have access to medical records. An exception to this is:
1. A situation where the minor legally obtained services without parental or guardian
consent. *The minor’s voluntary involvement of a parent or guardian does not change the
minor’s right to control the related health information.*
2. If the parent or guardian agrees the minor and health care provider may have a
confidential relationship. *The parent or guardian may decide they want to know the
health information being discussed.*
3. If allowing the parent or guardian to have access to the medical records will endanger the
minor.
